Discussions By Condition: I cannot get a diagnosis.

Blackout but still conscious & functioning

About three months ago I left work and within a block my arms felt weak and I became really hot & my chest hurt. I intended to pull over at the next roadway but instead "came to" close to my home which was 15 minutes away. I drove all that way blacked out. Doc did blood work a few days later and sugar levels were perfect, blood pressure perfect...

This weekend it happened again only this time, no weak or hot feelings... I went and had dinner and went out with friends... had about 5 beers. All I remember is "coming to" after I was already home and had taken a shower. (which is something I normally do after being out because I cant sleep with the smoke smell on me due to allergies.) My friends tell me they noticed no difference in my behavior, other than even after a few beers, I was quieter than I normally am. But not enough for them to be concerned.

As you can see, the two times this has happend the situations have been different. I dont know what to do and this is starting to scare me. I dont even know what to ask my doctor to look for since blood work was perfect after the last time. Any suggestions?

14 Replies:

This sounds like some kind of amnesia and you must go back to the doc. Tell him what happened and ask to be referred to a specialist. I think you want something more than just his standard blood tests which won't tell you much. He will probably be the best one to advise who might be able to help in the local area. Hopefully, it won't happen again but I think you should act now as it is far better to be safe than sorry.

I don't know what it is, but definitely do not drink any more alcohol. Have you been taking any kinds of sleeping medicine at night? Sometimes certain ones of those can have this result.Also, it probably isn't a good thing for you to be out driving by yourself until you figure out what is going on. But beyond those three random thoughts, I completely agree with Kenn that you need to go to your doctor and to a speciallist determined by your doc. You want to get an EKG in your doctor's office, as well as those blood tests.Best,Shula

i have been having the same types of blackouts all the time they get worse and then mine go away for a month and come back with vengence. unlike yours i dont get chest pains but i over heat i also lose all vision but i can function and all my doctor told me to get my eyes checked i did and they are fine so my next step is a cat scan u might want to see if getting one will help u to figure out what is going on

I go through the same thing, except I don't drink. It happened to me while I was tutoring 6th graders, and again when I was a first-grade counselor at camp. Go get an MRI. My dad had this, too, and they were caused by a brain tumour. It could also be pre-syncopse.

I used to pass out only in the shower after feeling really hot and nauseous or after a couple minutes of elevated heart rate like exercise, but about 4 years ago I started to lose track of time/"black out" while driving. I would get on the turnpike at my usual entrance and although I cognitively know how I got to the exit for my job of 3+ years, I wouldn't actually remember doing so that day. I have many other symptoms to go on though.Hopefully you have gotten an answer since you posted in 2007, but in case you remain undiagnosed as I did for 15+ years, you should check the symptom list for Neurally Mediated Hypotension, which you can google. A cardiologist would be the specialist best able to go through the diagnosis with you.http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/high-pulse-low-blood-pressure.htmlAlcohol can cause low blood pressure; so, that could explain that time, but the first time you "browned out" could be the vaso-vagal syncope I gave a link for above, it could have just been an isolated heat exhaustion incident, or you may want to go to a neurologist to rule out seizures.Hope this helps.

hi my name is julio i just wonder are you relative of diana shula , iam the only one in america that think tha she is inocent, plus the members of her family i still had the newspapper of that day , nancy grace is wrong im right. thank youI don't know what it is, but definitely do not drink any more alcohol. Have you been taking any kinds of sleeping medicine at night? Sometimes certain ones of those can have this result.Also, it probably isn't a good thing for you to be out driving by yourself until you figure out what is going on. But beyond those three random thoughts, I completely agree with Kenn that you need to go to your doctor and to a speciallist determined by your doc. You want to get an EKG in your doctor's office, as well as those blood tests.Best,Shula

did you ever get a diagnosis? i'm going thru something quite similar. thanks.I have a similar problem. I lose days at a time though. Apparently (from what I am told) I am hard to reason with when it happens, I slur my speech and weave around cant keep my balance. i have had every test possible including brain mri's (yes, multiple) as well as a kat scan and everything comes back fine...Help!

hi my name is julio i just wonder are you relative of diana shula , iam the only one in america that think tha she is inocent, plus the members of her family i still had the newspapper of that day , nancy grace is wrong im right. thank youI have had several episodes of blackouts. I do not pass out. I have been going through a tremendous amount of duress. The last time I got arrested because they said I cursed and fought a police officer. That is totally unlike me. I had had two beers just to calm down. I could feel mounting tension and felt like I was going to blow, and apparently did. Any comments? I have a lot of medical problems, take a number of prescriptions, and sweat profusely. I cannot tolerate heat at all. Any comments? I need to know what is happening to me........ ss

i had something similar where i lay down for sleep and it 5 minutes past but its been 3 hours.and ill be listening to music but ill hear the same song for the 3 hours.and all i can do is lay there and the only thing that will snap me out of it is someone saying my name.and ive went the whole night like this and then finally snap out of it and feel like i just was imaging things but its real and odd.and i don't know what to do

Hi all, I have memory loss, but it was when going thru menopause. The doc's dignoses them bipolar. All my life I've did and said what ever came to mind and got in trouble. As for what you're talking about, do you remember and or have a complete blackout? or is it like no control and a slight memory of what happened but no control until something 'snaps' you back. As for Doctors, the internet lol knows alot more in my opinion! My issue is for the first time in my 58 years, nov. 23, 2011. I left a store to go home. Came to a traffic light. that was the last thing I remember. I came tounderneight, a large truck van work type. Many people around includeing police, paramedics, people standing around in the street as i and my car was in a ditch with the van that i had hit. My airbags, seatbelt did not deploye. use. I do not remember if I bucked my belt or not befor i left for home. I usually do becausethe auto i had rings until it's buckled. But I truly don't remember. The sun was going down cause i do remember it getting dark out side. Earlier that day before and noon i had 2 drinks with friends. then i remember drinking at least 3 cups of coffee. This is always my norm the coffee cause i love coffee. it wasn't till later on at least over 2 hours before i decided to head for home. in the last several minutes i do remember going to the bathroom several times and getting a bit of sick at my stomach, and my head was like a headache. I hung there and thought it would just go away for about 30 minutes. then i walked to my auto this was at least 2 1/2 hours after drinks. Got in auto as above , ended up as above. I'm still trying to figure it all out. imposible to do. Back to all of you, please where ever you live check out online for a good neurologist. with at least 15 yrs experience. Not just 15 out of school. Have a consaltation. with paper and list of ?. If you begin to feel un confrontable. hit the door. If not eye contact, hit the door, With Obamacare, it sucks but the paitent is still incharge. God Bless.

I was walking to the shop today when i lost my vision and hearing and when i woke up 2 seconds later i was inches away from the floor, it has happened to me over 8 times in the course of 20 minutes and my body keeps suddenly jolting aswell. i was awake for the most part (or so it seems) but i couldn't move my body at all. it's kind of the same except i remember all of it?